Assessing the impact of El Nino-induced drought on farmers' livelihoods in Binga district: resilience, adaptation, and coping strategies

Abstract

This study evaluated how the drought brought on by El Niño affected farmers' livelihoods in Zimbabwe's Binga district during the 2023–2024 period. In order to improve farmers' adaptability and food security, the study sought to assess the sustainability and efficacy of their coping mechanisms, resilience, and adaptation. A mixed-methods strategy was used to accomplish this goal, integrating key informant interviews, focus groups, and household surveys. A thorough grasp of how El Niño-induced drought affects farmers' livelihoods was obtained by gathering data from 252 homes. The results show that the two significant impacts of El Niño-induced drought on farmers' livelihoods are reduced crop yields and animal deaths. Farmers use a various coping and adaptation strategies, such as crop and revenue diversification, planting and harvesting schedules, forecasting, and the use of farming technology. To investigate the factors impacting the selection of resilient adaptation tactics, a Multivariate Probit model (MVP) was used. The findings indicate that the choice of adaptation options is significantly influenced by agricultural training, farm size, education, availability to financing, livestock management, and information.

In order to improve and expand farmers' resilience and adaptive ability in the face of climate-related shocks, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners should take note of the study's significant implications. In order to help farmers implement climate-resilient adaptation measures, the study highlights the need for focused interventions. Furthermore, in order to improve farmers' resilience and ability for adaptation, the research emphasizes the need of giving them access to markets, loans, and knowledge. All things considered, this research advances knowledge of how El Nino-induced drought affects farmers' livelihoods and the effectiveness and sustainability of their coping, adaptation, and resilience strategies. .